Rotary engine



De'c' 141-11926.

' I N. P. LITHANDER ROTARY ENGINE File M r 1925 KSheets-Shetg r. 7. m w I I a k, 5% x \v w w w. I Ma R W. kw mwm w i Q x Q 0 m \W U n a a Q. m l/ a mu Dec, 14 l926.-

, 1,610,613 N. P. LITHANDER v ROTARY ENGINE Fi March .1 25 a Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 14, 1 926. Y

UNITED STATES NELSON r. LITH NDER, or] B A D N, M NrroBA, CANADA.

ROTARY" ENGINE.

Application filed March 20,1925. Serial No. 17,098.

The invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and particularly to rotary steam engines and an object of the invention is to provide an eflicient smooth running economical engine of the above type and arranged so that there is almost continuous expansion of steam and so that the expansions are occurring atdiamet'rically opposite points to balance the engine and increase its power. 1

' A further object of the invention is to provide a steam engine having comparatively few mechanically which permits of the standardizing and of 5 quick and cheap assembly;

A further object is to construct the engine'so that it can be converted into a high or low speed engine as occasion demands and also so that the direction of the rotation of the engine can be reversed if so desired.

" With the above more important objects in view, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter described. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view of my rotary steam engine, the lower part of the engine being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view at 2-2 o Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the applied arrow.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view at 33' Figure 1. V

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view at :m 4L-4- Fig. 1 and looking downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view at 55 Figure land looking downwardly.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view at 66 Figure 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but with the rocking members shown in the position for admitting motive fluid to the expansion chambers.

In the drawings like. characters of reference indicate ,corresponding parts in the several figures.

A pair of supporting standards 1 and 2 are provided, these being suitably mounted on a fixed base depending in what location F the engine is used. The standard 1 is provided at its upper end with a bearing 3 and with an extending bracket 4 adjoining the bearing. The standard 2 is supplied also with a bearing 5 axially aligned with the operated parts bearing 3 and it is equipped also with three similar equi-spaced radiating stub shafts 6 utilized for supporting similar bevel pinions later described.

The main shaft 7 of the engine is rotat- I ably mounted in the bearings 3 and 5 and it is provided at one end with a driving pulley 8, keyed thereto. The'stub shafts 6. carry rotatably similar bevel pinions 9 which are continuously in mesh with an outer bevel held in place by a washer 13 and a pin 1% in each instance. 'Ad olnlng the bevel gear 12, I mount rotatably on the shaft the hub 15 of whatIherein term the inner rotor 16 and adjoining the hub 15, Imount the hub 17 of what I herein term the outer rotor 18,

the latter hub being fastened to the shaft 7 by a key 19. The bevel gear 12 is fastened to the hub 15 by suitably positioned screws 20. The rotor 16 is carried by a disk-like web 21 and the outer edge of the web termi nates in a comparatively wide rim 22 which 'is fitted at the edges with outstanding continuous flanges 23 and 24. The rim is provided in locations ninety degrees apart, with outstanding ribs 25, the ends of'which merge into the flanges. The ribs are more or less semi-circular incross section and they are of the same height as the flanges. The hub 17 carries a web 26. The'outer part is angua larly deflected as best shown in Figure 1. The web 26 carries a rim 27 and the rim presents side flanges 28 and 29, the flange 28 being in reality the connecting element between the rim 27 and the web 26. The flange 28 is supplied on the inner'side with a cone tinuous groove or channel 28- which is adapted to receive the flange 23 of the rim 22 and the rim 24, is positioned within the rim 29.. By such construction, the rims and flanges of the rotors enclose an interior chamber 30. The ribs 25 of the rotor 16 are designed so that their outer faces make sliding contact with the inner face of the.

rim 27 with the result that in the present instance, the annular chamber is divided into four similar working chambers 31.

An oil well 32 is cast integrallv with the web andhub of the rotor 16, the well being provided with a filling cap 33. The web'of the latter rotor is also supplied with radiating holes 34; which, pass inwardly to the shaft '7 and outwardly to the, ribs-25; the ribsbeing fitted with lengthwise extending holes 35 communicating with those 3 k and with arrow slots' tiforn'iedin the'web and com municating with the holes 35'. In the well, I locate a number of radially extending passages 37, the innerendsof which com municate with the oil holes 35, and the outer ends of which: are just nicely clear of the outer wall: of the well.

The outer rim- 27 carries: aplurality of similar housings 38 positioned? ninety degrees apartand in the housings, I mount rocker members 39. present inner and outer walls 40- and 41 which areconcentricto theshaft 7', the radius=of the inner wall being 'the szimeas the radius of the: rim 27. vliilst: the radius of that ll issome'wh'at lartger. Centrally the rocker member divided by a partition 2 and at the ends it is equipped with end spindles and these being rotatahl mountediin the fiangesQS and 29. The open sides of the rocker members are adapted-in certain positions thereof to be closed by the-curved ends 45' and 4-6 of the housings and each rocker member is provided at the sides, with outstanding flanges 4t? and 48 which are adapted tosu' eep over: the taco t" the housing. and-open or close exhaust ports i and to" hereinafter more fully described. r

The: shaft 7 is provided at one end with an interior inlet passage 505' the. inner end of w-hich isprojected through the shaft and hub 17 and communicateswith four similar feed pipes: 51 which are utilized to supply live steanito the rocker members. The outer rotor isprovided adjacent the housi with afacial enlargement which is utilized to give an interior ve chamber 52 which is in directcommunication with-the pipe 51' in each instance. lhe sten'i 4:4 of ea'cl'r rocker iemb'er is-providcd-withtwo inlet passaje'es 54 and 55 which are sepz-iratefl in the valve chamber-by a web The web 5'6 is desie i'led in the central posit; .n' of the rocker member'to close'the entering end; oi? the pipe 51 (see Figure 3), and in so doing prevents steam fronr entering the rocker member in such a position; The inlet M and lead through the stem let to the interior the rocker ll'lQlnlIQl}OPGIllfiQ at. opposite SlClQS of the partition therein, as best shown in Figures Q-and t; The fa cial'enlargements also provide for the ez rhaust ports-49 and 50, these portsbeingconnected in each instance by branch pipes 57 and 58 to exhaust pipes 59. The exhaust pipes- 59 in each instance, communicate throughsuitable openings provided in the hub-1'4- and the shaft 7 with anexhaust passage 59 located I in the end of the shaft carried by the hear- Therocker members ing 5. Means later described are provided for rocking, the rocker incmhe and it; will be observed thatishould thc rocker members shown in Figure 2 be turned in either direction, one end thereof will swing down and coii'nnunicat'ewith oneof the chambers 31., whilst-the other end will move up and un cover the exhaust por to permit the crapandedsteain in the preceding; chamber ll to exhaust. lVh-en steam is exhausting in this wa t from: one chamber it is being. admitted to the other through one or other of the lizortsfid or 55. The-rocker members are all simultaneously rocked by a device hereinafter described;

Onthe' outer end of thehub 17, l: mount a sleeve titlwhiclr rotates with the hub but isfree to moveendwise-thercon. The sleeve carries or is-providedi'with a circumscril'acd channel which receives a ring. film he hra'clzet lcarries? piv'otallv a lever (32 and the low r end of the'lev is-torhed to span theshatt 7 and the forked: ends-thereof a e connected by s'milar side links 63 pivotall i lo the ring the arrangement: being suchthet the shit'ting; of thelev'er shifts-the ring and sucl'rthat the sleeve is-tree to rotate within the at all tlll'lOS'. The sleeve longitudinally slotted at spaced intervals. the slots 60 receiving similar lugs 17" whichextend outwardly from the hub-17 and a e positioned ninety degrees apart. A cups (3 1" pivotally connected to'the' in: and in these'cup's, 1' seat the inner ends 0 similar expansion springs- 65. the outer end. of: which areseated in cups 636. pivotally attached to the inner ends of levers 6. the levers having the r outer ends p1 bolted asindieated at ($8 to'the The sleeve (3d carries e-casinp; wh ch lieu the cups and springs and receives the lev rss 61- Each lever passes through accntral slot '70 formed in the casino; and the rndso'l thi central, slot communicate with i disposed triangular shaped op-eni 72 formed in the cue x .7 7 henthe casing: is in the central as shown, the levers 6? cannot swine sulcways in either direction under th a t on of the sprii 65 they are rest! "l hr the slots 70. liimvrver should the sleeve 30 h:- inoved out or in bv'manipulatinir the lever (32 the levers 67 willbe passedtreat the slots 70 nto one or other the tr r-in ular openings and once the levers 67 are freed from the slots 70, they are brought uncer the direct influence of 'thesprin-gl's 65 which are eonstautv tending. to expand and. are altempting; to take the position as shown in dotted out-line in-Figure 3 or a reverse pos tio'n at, the opposite side In ordcr'to insure that the springzgs 65 will positively act on the levers 67-, I have provided flat-springs 73 in the triangular openings which are adapted to actand throw the be in the triangular openings and under the influence of both the springs 73 and 65, cannotmove until such times that the ribs 25 have passed from a central position underlying the partitions 42 and as shown in Figure 2 to a moved position wherethey are clearing the open sides of the rocker members. The instant, however, the ribs 25 pass away from the rocker members, the rocker members move under the initial action of the spring 73 and the subsequent action of the springs 65. The movement so brought about in the rocker members permlts live steam to enter the chambers 31 by way'of the entry ports 54 or those 55 (depending on the setting of the lever 62), and allows the exhausted steam to escape through theoutlet passages 49 or those 50.

By observing Figure 2, it will be seen that if the rotors are moving in the direction indicated by the applied arrows, the

trailing ends of the rocker members will,

move down as the ribs 25 are passing the same and as they move down, live steam will enter the chambers 31 through the entry ports 55. the steam expanding in those parts of the chambers to the rear of the passing webs and exhaust steam will be exhausting through the exhaust ports from those ports of the chamber 31 in advance of the webs.

The direction of rotation of the engine,

whether clockwise or anti-clockwise is determined by manipulating the lever 62. 1f the lever 62 is manipulated to pass the levers 67' into the openings 71, the rotation will i be clockwise and if into the opening 72, antirocked by the action of the springs to admit live steam and permit of exhaust.

Vhilstl have entered into a detailed description of parts, it is readily.understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact structures shown as these can be readily modified without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Further it is obvious that the number of chambers 31 and rocker members can be increased or diminished as oocasion requires and that the rotor 16 can be made stationary and that a variation in the speed of rotation of the engine can be had also by varying the radius of the gears Obviously as each 10 and 12 and inclining the spindles 6 so that the pinions 9 will mesh with the different sized gears employed. a

The live steam admitted to the passage 50 is controlled by a rotary valve 74 of any approved type which can be manipulated by hand to open or closed position.

, lVhatI claim is my invention is p 1. In a rotary steam engine, an outer rotor, an inner rotor mounted therewithin, said inner rotor being provided with spaced peripheral ribs contacting with the outer rotor and providing a plurality of working chambers between the rotors, a plurality of rocker members carried by the outer rotor and corresponding in number to the number of working chambers and adapt-ed to ride the peripheral facect theinner rotor and divide the working chambers into steam receiving and steam exhausting compartments, means for admitting live steam to the live steam compartments through the rocker members and means controlled by the movement of the rocker members for exhausting the exhaust steam from the exhaust compartments. 7

In a rotary steam engine, an outererotor, an inner rotor spaced therefrom and provided with spaced peripheral extensions continuously contacting with the inner face of the outer rotor, the said rotors and peripheral extensions forming a plurality of working chambers between the rotors, a plurality oi rocker members carried by the out er rotor and adapted to-ride the peripheral lUl) face off the inner rotor and divide the several working chambers into steam receiving and steam exhausting compartments, means i'or introducing live steam through the rocker members to the live steam compartments and means controlled by the movement of the rocker members for simultaneously exhausting the exhaust steam from the several exhaust steam compartments.

In a rotarysteam engine, an outer rotor, an inner rotor contained within the out or rotor and provided with equi-spaced peripheral ribs continuously contacting with the inner face of the outer rotor, the said rotors and ribs, forming a plurality of similar working chambers between the rotors,

:rocker members carried by the outer rotor er rotor and provided with equi-spaced peripheral ribs continuously contacting with the inner face of the outer rotor, the said rotors and ribs forming a plurality of similar working chambers between the rotors, rocker members carried by the outer rotor and corresponding in number to the number of working chambers and adapted to ride the peripheral face of the inner rotor and divide the working chambers into steam receiving and steam exhausting compartments, live steam connections passing through the axis of the inner rotor and communicating with the rocker members and through the rocker members with the live steam compart ments and means controlled by the movcment of the rocker members for exhausting exhaust steam-simultaneously from the exhaust compartments.

5. In a rotary steam engine, an outer rotor, an inner rotor contained within the outer rotor and provided with equi-spaced peripheral ribs continuously contacting with the inner face of the outer rotor, the said rotors and ribs forming a plurality of similar working chambers between the rotors, rocker members carried by the outer rotor and corresponding in number to the number of working chambers, said rocker members being hollow to provide steam inlet passages and being adapted to ride the peripheral face of the inner rotor and divide the working chambers into live steam receiving compartments and exhaust steam compartments, live steam connections passing axially through the inner rotor and communicating with the inlet passages of the rocker members and through the said inlet passages with the several live steam compartments and means controlled by the movement of the rocker members for simultaneously exhausting the exhaust steam from the several exhaust compartments.

6. In a rotary steam engine, an outer rotor, an inner rotor contained within the outer rotor and provided with equi-spaced peripheral ribs continuously contacting with the inner face of the outer rotor, the said rotors and ribs forming a plurality of similar working chambers between the rotors, a plurality of rocker members car'ied by the outer rotor and corresponding in number to the number of working chambers and adapted to ride the peripheral face of the inner rotor and divide the several working chambers into steam receiving and steam exhausting compartments and said rocker members being further each provided with two live steam inlet passages disposed in opposite directions for forward and reverse rotation of the rotors, a valve associated with each rocker member and controlling the admission of steam to one or other of the passages depending on the setting of the valve, live steam connections passing axially through the inner rotor and communicating with the valves and means controlled by the moven'ient of the rocker members for simultaneously exhausting the exhaust steam from the several exhaust compartments.

7. In a rotary steam engine, an outer rotor, an inner rotor within the same and proided with a plurality of equ'i-spaced facial ribs contacting with the inner wall of the 'iiter rotor, the ribs and rotors formin a plurality of similar working chambers between the rotors, a plurality of housings carried by the outer rotor and corresponding in l'l'illl'lbQl to the number of working chambers, a valve casing located at one end of each hon a rocli'er memliicr rotatably mounted in each housing and apted to ride the peripheral face of the innc" rotor and divide the working CllZUl'llX-BI'S into live steam receiving and steam exhausting compartments, the said rocker members being further interiorl v divided to provide oppositely directed live steam inlet passages for forward and reverse rotation of the rotors, a valve located at the end of each rocker member and mounted within the valve casing, means for simultaneously passing live steam to the several valve casings, means for setting the valves to admit the live steam to one or other of the passages of the rocker members dependent on the setting of the valves and means controlled by the movement of the rocker members for simultaneously exhausting the ex haust steam from the several exhaust steam compartments.

8. In a rotary steam engine, an outer rotor, an inner rotor contained within the same and provided with a plurality of equispaced facial ribs contacting with the inner face of the outer rotor, the said ribs and rotors forming a plurality of similar worle ing chambers between the rotors, a plurality of housings carried by the outer rotor and corresponding in number to the number of working chambers, a rocker member mounted in each housing and adapted to ride the peripheral face of the inner rotor and divide the working chambers into live steam receiving and exhaust steam exhaust compartments, said rocker members further providing oppositely directed steam inlet passages, one of which in the rocking of the rocker member communicates with a live steam compartment and the other of which is closed by the housing, a valve associated with each rocker meniiber and provided with two passages communicating with the passages of the rocker member, a valve casing containing each val ve. means for passing live steam to the several valve casings, means for setting the valves to initially admit live steam to one or other of the live steam pas sages of the rocker members and through such selected passages to the live steam compartments and means controlled by the movement of the rocker members for simultaneously exhausting steam from the exhaust steam compartments.

9. In a rotary steam engine, an outer rotor, an inner rotor contained within the same and provided with a plurality of equi-spaced facial ribs contacting with the inner face of the outer rotor, the said ribs and rotors forming a plurality of similar working chambers between the rotors, a plurality of housings carried by the outer rotor and corresponding in number to the number of Working chambers, a rocker member mounted in each housing and having either end thereof adapted to ride the outer face of the inner rotor depending on the setting of the rocker member and to divide the adjacent working chamber into live steam receiving and steam exhausting compartments, said rocker members being further interiorly divided to provide oppositely directed steam V inlet passages, one of which communicates with the adjacent live steam compartment and the other ofwhich is closed by the wall of the housing, a valve associated with each rocker member and presenting two inlet passages communicating with the former passages of the rocker member, a casing containing each valve, a live. steam pipe leading .to, each casing, means for simultaneously controlling the valves to admit live steam to one or 1 other of the passages thereof. and through the rocker members to the live steam compartments and exhaust portsformed in the housings and controlled by the movement of the rocker members and adapted to permit of the exhausting of steam from the exhaust steam compartment coincident With the admission of live steam to the live steam compartment;

Signed at the city of Brandon, Manitoba, this 24th day of November 1924:.

NELSON P. LITHANDER. 

